Hydrangea plant named ‘RIE 03’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘RIE 03’ that is characterized by broad upright habit, large dark-green leaves, flowers that are yellow-green and pink in color, and unique inflorescence development. In combination these traits set ‘RIE 03’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Hydrangea  known to the inventor.

Genus: Hydrangea.

Species: macrophylla.

Denomination: RIE 03.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hydrangea that is grown for use as an indoor floral potted plant and an outdoor ornamental flowering shrub. The new cultivar is known botanically as Hydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘RIE 03’.

‘RIE 03’ resulted from a breeding program that was conducted by the inventor at the inventor's nursery in Kyoto, Japan and began in 1990. The purpose of the breeding program was to produce new varieties of floral potted hydrangeas that exhibit new and unique flowers and flower color.

Between May 1990 and May 1993 the inventor assembled a collection of unnamed and unreleased hybrids from a sequence of deliberate pollinations involving the following cultivars, all unpatented, and available in commerce in Japan: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Otafuku’, Hydrangea macrophylla, ‘Yamaajisai’ and Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Fijinishiritaki’. The inventor did not record which variety was used as male parent and which as female parent. In May 1993, the inventor carried out a deliberate pollination between one unnamed plant from the inventor's collection as female parent and the variety Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Sumidanohanabi’ (unpatented) as male parent.

The pollination described above produced thirty-five individual varieties, which the inventor considered novel and unusual. One of these individual varieties was selected by the inventor in June 1994 and is the subject of the present invention, ‘RIE 03’.

‘RIE 03’ is a deciduous shrub that exhibits large dark-green leaves and yellow-green turning to pink flowers that bloom in spring and summer. Selection was based on the distinguishing characteristics of flowers, flower color, and inflorescence development. ‘Lace cap’ type hydrangeas produce showy sterile flowers along the outside of the inflorescence, and small inner flowers that are fertile flowers. When an individual inflorescence of ‘RIE 03’ first opens, it looks like a ‘lace cap’ type inflorescence with large sterile flowers on the edge. However, unlike the ‘lace cap’ type Hydrangea, the inflorescence eventually fills out completely. Within the inflorescence, center fertile flowers are intermixed with center sterile flowers, so that as the inflorescence develops further, the sterile flowers in the center open fully to then cover the smaller fertile flowers. ‘RIE 03’ is distinguishable from the parent plants by flower color, and unique inflorescence development, which produces an average of 9 sterile flowers and 550 fertile flowers per inflorescence.

The inventor considers that ‘RIE03’ is distinct from other varieties of Hydrangea known to the inventor in the following respects:

First, whereas other varieties of Hydrangea in commerce have four petals per floret on a flat, one-dimensional plane, ‘RIE 03’ has two to three layers of petals per floret, creating a double-flower appearance.

Second, whereas many novel varieties have been found in, or brought from, Japan in recent years, none appear to have the combination of uniqueness of flower form as above combined with greater vigor and faster growing to flowering stage which typifies ‘RIE 03’.

Third, the vigor of ‘RIE 03’ is evident in its strong thick stems which do not require staking to support the heavy blooms. ‘RIE 03’, although vigorous, exhibits a shorter internode distance than many other commercial forms of Hydrangea, allowing ‘RIE 03’ to be grown commercially with less or even no application of growth regulating chemical.

‘RIE 03’ was first asexually propagated by the inventor in the spring of 1995 in a cultivated area of Kyoto, Japan. The method used for asexual propagation was softwood cuttings. The characteristics of the new Hydrangea cultivar named ‘RIE 03’ have been determined stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Hydrangea cultivar ‘RIE 03’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘RIE 03’ from all other commercial varieties of Hydrangea known to the inventor. ‘RIE 03’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, without however, any difference in genotype.

-   -   1. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ is grown for use as both an indoor floral         potted plant and an outdoor ornamental flowering shrub.     -   2. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ exhibits flowers that are yellow-green         turning to pink in color.     -   3. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ exhibits unique inflorescence development         that produces an average of 9 sterile flowers and 550 smaller         fertile flowers per inflorescence.     -   4. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ exhibits a broad upright habit.     -   5. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ exhibits large dark-green leaves.     -   6. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ is 38 cm. in height and 67 cm. in diameter         in a 1.5-liter container.     -   7. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ is a shrub.     -   8. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ is deciduous.     -   9. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ performs best when planted in loam based         moisture retentive soil, in partial shade, with regular water.     -   10. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ is asexually propagated by the method of         softwood cuttings.     -   11. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ exhibits rigid, strong basal branches.     -   12. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ is hardy to USDA Zone 5.     -   13. Hydrangea ‘RIE 03’ blooms continuously from early April to         September.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hydrangea cultivar ‘RIE 03’ showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety of Hydrangea named ‘RIE 03’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts an individual whole plant growing in a 1.5-liter container in a frost-protected greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. Plants were grown in Peat moss soils with a PH of 6.0 to 6.4. The plant is approximately twenty one months old. The plant was produced from a cutting which was rooted and grown in a four inch container, then transplanted into the 1.5 liter container and pinched to encourage basal branching, then allowed to shoot from the base and allowed to flower in its natural season. The plant was pruned back to the base after flowering. The drawing depicts the vigorous basal branching habit of ‘RIE 03’ in its second season of re-growth. Such a plant would be highly suitable for use as a stock plant for the purpose of providing cutting material for commercial propagation.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the inflorescence of ‘RIE03’, with a close-up view of the sterile and fertile flowers.

All drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possible, by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is the detailed description of ‘RIE 03’ as grown in a greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. Data was collected in April 2004 from 12-month-old plants grown in 1.5-liter containers. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2002 Edition of the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘RIE 03’. -   Genus: Hydrangea. -   Species: macrophylla. -   Denomination: ‘RIE 03’. -   Commercial classification: Floral plant, ornamental shrub. -   Common name: Hydrangea. -   Use: Grown for use as a potted indoor plant or as an outdoor     ornamental flowering shrub. -   Container size: Suggested container size is 1.5-liter. -   Cultural requirements: Performs best when planted in loam based     moisture retentive soil, in partial shade, with regular water. -   Parentage: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘RIE 03’ is a hybrid plant that     resulted from the induced cross-pollination of the following parent     plants:     -   -   Female parent.—An unnamed individual Hydrangea macrophylla.         -   Male parent.—An individual Hydrangea macrophylla             ‘Sumidanohanabi’ (unpatented). -   Plant description:     -   -   Blooming seasons.—Spring and summer (natural season) or             year-round if forced.         -   Plant habit.—Broad upright.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.         -   Overall plant shape.—Broad inverted triangle.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Growth rate.—An average of 15-cm. per month in spring.         -   Plant height.—38 cm. in height.         -   Plant diameter.—67 cm. in diameter.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5.         -   High temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to 32° Centigrade.         -   Root system.—Fibrous.         -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished by the method of             softwood cuttings.         -   Time and temperatures to develop roots.—Approximately 4             weeks is needed to develop roots on an initial cutting, at             temperatures of 18° to 20° Centigrade.         -   Crop time (outdoor plant crop).—An average of 12 months is             needed to produce a commercial container size flowering             outdoor plant, from a rooted cutting.         -   Temperatures (outdoor plant crop).—From rooted cuttings to             commercial size containers, the outdoor crop is grown at             natural outdoor temperatures utilizing unheated greenhouses             for winter protection.         -   Crop time (indoor plant crop).—An average of 4-6 months is             needed to produce a commercial container size flowering             indoor plant, from a rooted cutting.         -   Temperatures (indoor plant crop).—Transplant rooted cuttings             to liner pots and keep for a minimum of 6 weeks at below 5°             Centigrade to force dormancy. Transplant to 1.5-liter             containers and keep at 18° to 25° Centigrade for a minimum             or 10 weeks to produce commercial container size flowering             plants.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—No             susceptibility to pests or disease known to the inventor. -   Stem:     -   -   Number of lateral branches.—An average of 3 lateral             branches.         -   Lateral branch length.—Average is 32 cm. in length.         -   Lateral branch diameter.—Average is 7 mm. in diameter.         -   Stem shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Pubescence.—None observed.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Stem texture.—Rigid.         -   Stem color.—Individual colors 144A, 144B, N186B and N186C             are present on an individual stem.         -   Lenticels.—Present.         -   Quantity of lenticels.—An average of 13 per cubic cm. of             stem surface.         -   Lenticel color.—A combination of colors N186B and N186C is             present on an individual lenticel.         -   Lenticel height.—An average of 0.5 mm. in height.         -   Lenticel width.—An average of 3 mm. in width.         -   Branching habit.—Moderate to sparse basal branching.         -   Branching requirements.—Pinching encourages lateral             branching.         -   Internode length.—6.5 cm. between nodes. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Deciduous.         -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral stem.—An average of 10             individual leaves per lateral stem.         -   Leaf shape.—Leaves on an individual plant range from broad             oval to broad elliptic-oblong.         -   Apex.—Short apiculate.         -   Base.—Leaf base on an individual plant ranges from obtuse to             short attenuate.         -   Leaf margins.—Crenate.         -   Leaf length.—Average is 17.1 cm. in length.         -   Leaf width.—Average is 12.1 cm. in width.         -   Leaf appearance (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Semi-glossy             surfaces.         -   Leaf surfaces (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Glabrous.         -   Pubescence.—None present.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors 144B             and 144C are present on the veins of an individual vein.         -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors 146C             and 146D are present on the veins of an individual leaf.         -   Leaf color (adaxial surfaces).—139A.         -   Leaf color (abaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors 137C             and 137D on an individual leaf.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Petiole length.—An average of 3.9 cm. in length.         -   Petiole diameter.—An average of 4 mm. in diameter.         -   Petiole surface.—Glabrous.         -   Petiole shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Petiole color.—144B.         -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High durability to stress.         -   Stipules, tendrils, thorns.—None observed.         -   Fragrance.—None observed. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Terminal inflorescence.         -   Inflorescence type.—Compound corymb.         -   Inflorescence height.—Average of 9.8 cm. in height.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Average of 29.7 cm. in diameter.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—An average of 550             fertile flowers and 9 sterile flowers per individual             inflorescence.         -   Flowering habit.—Blooms continuously from early April to             September.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—An average of 550             fertile flowers, and 9 sterile flowers per individual             lateral stem.         -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—An average of 550             fertile flower buds and 9 sterile flower buds per individual             lateral stem.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—An average of 1650             fertile buds and flowers, and an average of 27 sterile buds             and flowers per individual plant.         -   Bud length.—Fertile flower buds are an average of 3 mm. in             length and sterile flower buds are an average of 7 mm. in             length.         -   Bud diameter.—Fertile flower buds are an average of 3 mm. in             diameter and sterile flower buds are an average of 5 mm. in             diameter.         -   Bud shape (fertile and sterile buds).—Obovate.         -   Bud apex (fertile and sterile buds).—Obtuse.         -   Bud color (fertile and sterile buds).—A combination of             colors 145A and 145C is present on an individual bud.         -   Flower aspect (fertile flowers).—Flowers range from upward             to outward facing on an individual plant.         -   Flower aspect (sterile flowers).—Sterile flowers are             slightly drooping.         -   Rate of opening (fertile and sterile flowers).—An average of             10% of the flowers on an individual plant open at once, and             all the flowers on an individual plant have opened by 6             weeks.         -   Flower diameter.—Fertile flowers are an average of 1 cm. in             diameter, and sterile flowers are an average of 8.8 cm. in             diameter.         -   Flower depth.—Fertile flowers are an average of 9 mm. in             depth and sterile flowers are an average of 3.2 cm. in             depth.         -   Flower shape (fertile and sterile flowers).—Rotate in shape.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning (fertile and sterile             flowers).—Persistent.         -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Peduncle color.—Individual colors 144B and N186C are present             on an individual peduncle.         -   Peduncle length.—Average is 4.5 cm. in length.         -   Peduncle diameter.—Average is 3.5 mm. in diameter.         -   Peduncle surface.—Puberulent.         -   Peduncle angle.—Average angle is 40°.         -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.         -   Pedicels (fertile and sterile flowers).—Present.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—An individual flower lasts 4 weeks.         -   Flower response time.—An average of 9 weeks.         -   Flower fragrance.—None observed.         -   Fertile flowers.—Petal appearance: Dull. Petal surface:             Glabrous. Petal number: An average of 4 petals per flower.             Petals fused or unfused: Unfused. Petal shape: Elliptic.             Petal margin: A combination of crenate and crenulate margin             on an individual petal margin. Petal apex: From flower to             flower an individual apex can range from obtuse to acute.             Petal length: Average is 6 mm. in length. Petal width:             Average is 3 mm. in width. Petal color (abaxial surfaces             when opening): 144A, 144B and 186D. Petal color (adaxial             surfaces when opening): 144A, 144B and 186D. Petal color             (abaxial surfaces when fully opened): Individual colors             186D, 150B and 150C are present on an individual petal.             Petal color (adaxial surfaces when fully opened): Individual             colors 68B, 68D, 150B and 150C are present on an individual             petal. Calyx: Present. Calyx shape: Campanulate. Calyx             length: Average of 2.5 mm. in length. Calyx diameter:             Average of 4 mm. in diameter. Sepals: 5 in number. Fused or             unfused: Fused. Sepal shape: Individual sepals range from             ovate to elliptic on an individual plant. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Cuneate. Sepal             appearance: Dull. Sepal surfaces (adaxial and abaxial             surfaces): Puberulent. Sepal length: Average of 2.5 mm. in             length. Sepal width: Average of 1.5 mm. in width. Sepal             color (abaxial and adaxial surfaces): 145A. Pedicel length:             Average is 4 mm. in length. Pedicel diameter: Average is             1 mm. in diameter. Pedicel angle: Average angle is 30°.             Pedicel strength: Moderate. Pedicel color: A combination of             colors 144A and 145B is present on an individual pedicel.             Pedicel surface: Puberulent. Lenticels: None observed on             pedicels of fertile flowers.         -   Sterile flowers.—Tepal appearance: Dull. Tepal surface:             Glabrous. Tepal number: An average of 16 tepals per sterile             flower. Tepals fused or unfused: Unfused. Tepal shape: On an             individual plant the shape of an individual tepal ranges             from rhomboidal to orbicular. Tepal margin: A combination of             crenate and crenulate on an individual tepal margin. Tepal             apex: Rounded. Tepal length: Average of 3.8 cm. in length.             Tepal width: Average of 3.4 cm. in width. Tepal color             (abaxial surfaces when opening): Individual colors 73D and             145D are present on an individual tepal. Tepal color             (adaxial surfaces when opening): Individual colors 145D,             73C, and 73D are present on an individual tepal. Tepal color             (abaxial surfaces fully opened): A combination of colors 73C             and 69C is present on an individual tepal. Tepal color             (adaxial surfaces when fully opened): Individual colors 68B             and 69B are present on an individual tepal. Tepal color             fading to (adaxial and abaxial surfaces): 150D. Calyx: None             observed. Pedicel length: Average is 4.7 cm. in length.             Pedicel diameter: Average is 2 mm. in diameter. Pedicel             angle: Average angle is 30°. Pedicel strength: Moderate.             Pedicel color: Individual colors 186C and 186D are present             on an individual pedicel. Pedicel surface: Glabrous.             Pubescence: None observed. Lenticels: None observed on             sterile flowers. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—None observed.         -   Anthers.—None observed.         -   Pistil.—An average of 4 pistils is present per individual             fertile flower.         -   Pistil length.—An average of 3 mm. in length.         -   Stigma.—Present.         -   Stigma shape.—Clavate.         -   Stigma color.—N79B.         -   Style length.—An average of 2.5 mm. in length.         -   Style color.—155C.         -   Ovary.—Present on fertile flowers.         -   Ovary position.—Inferior.         -   Ovary color.—157D.         -   Ovary dimensions.—0.2 mm. in height and 0.2 mm. in diameter.         -   Ovary shape.—Globular. -   Seed production: No seed production has been observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘RIE 03’ as described and illustrated herein. 